Mining company Rio Tinto has sealed a land use agreement with Yindjibarndi native title holders, allowing the miner long-term access to all 13,000 square kilometres of Yindjibarndi country in the north-west of Western Australia.

The deal offers compensation, training and employment opportunities in return for access to the land, allowing Rio to continue operating in the region for the life of its assets.

"I can't go into detail in terms of what is stated from a compensation figure, but I can say it's a substantial amount of funds available and they'll be available for the next 50 to 100 years, or however long Rio Tinto want to operate on our country for.

"The important thing to take from this is not about the funds that we're receiving, that is obviously one important aspect, (but) the other important aspect is to be a part of the operation both from a training, employment and commercial point of view."

Clayton Walker, managing director of Rio Tinto's Pilbara supply chain, says it's taken two years to negotiate this deal.

"I think both of us had our points and we've come to an agreement.

"I think when you're looking at an agreement that's going to be multi-generational it's really important that you get it right, and if it were to have taken another three years I would have done to make sure that they were happy just like we're happy."